Article by
Barbados Today

Published on
October 3, 2018

Mahalia’s Corner last Sunday wasn’t for those who sought to sit down and just listen to the music.The finale of the eighth season of spellbinding musical talent ended with the crowd on their feet, singing and having a good time.

Kerwin Du Bois’ stellar 40-minute performance was not to be missed. Du Bois was itching to jump around on the stage as he performed some of his greatest soca singles from throughout the years. At the end of the show, the Trinidadian soca artiste was dripping in sweat, his bandana remained intact but his white t-shirt was off and he stood in front of the packed Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre auditorium in his black vest and one hand in the air.

He instructed the crowd to raise their hands and party as one as he belted Circles. From start to finish, DuBois was exhilarating, lively and dynamic. Accompanied by a live band with the crowd as his chorus, he rattled off No Apology, Too Real, Feteland, Unforgettable, Baccahnalist, Monster Winer, Ah Thing and more. He manoeuvred the stage expertly much like the Pied Piper and had the audience focused on his every word and note. The young and the old were out of their seats and jammin’.

For their last acoustic performance, 2 Mile Hill catered to the eclectic group gathered with some old school hits like After The Love Is Gone by Earth, Wind & Fire and Marvin Gaye’s Sexual Healing to Lauryn Hill’s Ready or Not, Just One of Those Day’s by Sizzla and their 2018 release Conversation.

Aside from the headliner, some of the brightest stars shone during the Open Mic segment when Frederick Smith Secondary student Theres Lambert received a standing ovation. Lambert’s performance of I’m A Weirdo by Lonely Island was mesmerizing and exceptional.

Rhea Layne’s mixture of reggae, soca and R&B fused with her playful onstage personality also revved up the crowd. Layne sang her single Speakah,Allez by Teddyson John and also did a medley of familiar reggae hits to the delight of the audience. When the show closed, a sense of riveting energy remained in the air, with high anticipation of what patrons can expect for the Christmas edition.

Speaking to Bajan Vibes, Mahalia Cummins said she was overjoyed at the success of the month-long season and revealed that Christmas preparations were already in process.

“I continue to be blown away by the talent that Barbados has and the fact that people are still hungry for a different type of event to attend,” said Cummins.